Ideas on Nilla Wafers for Kids

Nilla wafers taste great right out of the box, but they don't have much in the way of nutritional value. To make up for this, use them as the base of a snack made with more nutrient-rich ingredients. The beloved cookies are fairly low in fat and calories, but they do contain several grams of sugar per serving. Prepare snacks for your kids with the cookies, but make them occasional splurges rather than an everyday thing.

Open-Faced Fruit Sandwiches

Your child needs to eat between 1 and 2 cups of fruit each day. Add the fruit to Nilla wafers to increase the nutritional value of your child's dessert. Spread Nilla wafers with low-fat cream cheese. Layer chopped fruit, such as bananas, kiwis, peaches or apples, on top of the cream cheese. Sprinkle the fruit with ground cinnamon or drizzle it with honey for a touch of sweetness.

Yogurt Sundaes

Low-fat yogurt supplies your child with calcium and protein, and it pairs well with the flavor of Nilla wafers. Coarsely crush Nilla wafers and sprinkle a few into the bottom of a tall glass. Spoon yogurt over the cookies and top them with sliced strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. Repeat with more cookies, yogurt and fruit. Sprinkle the top of the parfait with low-fat granola or fat-free whipped topping. Chill the parfait if desired, but don't make it too soon before your child eats it because the cookies will get soggy.

Snack Mix

Sweeten up a batch of snack mix with Nilla wafers. Combine dry breakfast cereal, nuts, dried fruit and Nilla wafer pieces to make a tasty mix. Include additional ingredients, such as dark chocolate chips, coconut flakes, pretzels, popcorn and crackers to tailor the snack to your child's preferences. To make it even more entertaining, set out the ingredients and let your child mix his own snack.

Additional Ideas

Crumble Nilla wafers over a small bowl of ice cream, sherbert or frozen yogurt, or add them to oatmeal. Core an apple and fill the cavity with cinnamon, brown sugar, chopped walnuts and crushed Nilla wafers. Bake the apple until it's soft and serve it as a tasty snack that supplies fiber and vitamin C. Lay several Nilla wafers flat on a serving platter. Place a spoon of low-fat lime yogurt on top of each and top with finely chopped mango. Use Nilla wafers in place of graham crackers to make your child's favorite pie.

About the Author

Sara Ipatenco has taught writing, health and nutrition. She started writing in 2007 and has been published in Teaching Tolerance magazine. Ipatenco holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in education, both from the University of Denver.